Michael Ryan is reporting in the Windham Journal the town of Prattsville is seeking a fresh water source and has hired a hydrogeologist to lead the search. The town recently retained the services of Hanson Van Vleet LLC, of Clifton Park. The firm will be paid $14,000 to identify target areas, evaluate existing water quality issues and to assist in recruiting a driller, if a new well location is found. Work on the three-phase project will begin this week. In other water-related news, Gail Heinsohn is reporting in the Chatham Courier Chatham officials recently had the water there tested for PFOA, the toxic substance found in the water of two local communities. According to town supervisor Maria Lull, the water in Chatham is tested regularly, but not for PFOA. The town board in March authorized the special testing. Samples taken at Crellin Park, town hall and the highway department all came back negative. PFOA is used in the process of making Teflon. It was found in the water in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh, both communities located in Rensselaer County, earlier this year.

Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star U.S. Senator Charles Schumer pledged his support this week for a federal grant to connect sections of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. The trail is a walking and cycling path that stretches from Wassaic in Dutchess County to Hillsdale. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association and Dutchess County have applied for a $7.5-million of U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER grants for the project. The grant would allow the completion of the trail between Millerton and Ancram, and create a tunnel crossing of Route 22, plus allow for the construction of three pedestrian bridges, connecting the Copake and Hillsdale sections of the trail. Garrick Dardani, the owner of Steiner’s Sports said many people are looking to cycle on trails instead of roads. The Copake Falls section of the trail is already popular, Dardani said. He said connecting the parts of the rail trail would be a boon for cycling and “absolutely” be good for his business. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Casey Seiler is reporting at Capitol Confidential the state Appellate Division's Third Department Thu., May 5, upheld a lower court decision to dismiss a 2013 lawsuit filed by the New York State United Teachers union against the 2011 law that established the state's two percent flexible tax cap. The union claimed the law was unconstitutional and was damaging to the public education system. In its 12-page opinion, the court knocked down the lawsuit's equal protection claims. It noted the state is required to provide the opportunity of a sound basic education, not the same level of services for every school district. Union spokesman Carl Korn said that while the union was still reviewing the decision, the plaintiffs are very likely to take the case to the state Court of Appeals. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Michael Ryan in The Windham Journal reports about a "nasty" dispute between members of the Windham Planning Board by local development partners David Schlowsky and Paul Hennessy. Schlowsky and Hennessy spoke out at a Town Board meeting last week about multiple projects already implemented or proposed for their property at the former Police Anchor Camp, along Route 23, where they have installed home heating oil and kerosene storage tanks, and are proposing the construction of a 3,200-square-foot equipment storage building with diesel fuel tanks and three concrete refueling pads for tractor trailers and smaller commercial vehicles. “I have filed a formal complaint with the town board about this project,” Schlowsky said in an interview. “[Town Supervisor Robert Pelham] told me I was going to get my public hearing but that’s not the point. “I should be getting a public hearing because I am doing things properly and going through the proper channels, which I am doing, not because the planning board arbitrarily says it’s okay,” Schlowsky said. Planning Board Chairwoman Maureen Anshanslin in a statement wrote, “I am shocked and offended that my character and integrity [are] being attacked. I take this very seriously as I do my position as chair. I follow the laws and regulations very strictly and will continue to do so.” A Public Hearing will be held May 5 in Windham about the proposal. Read the full story in The Windham Journal.

Diane Valden at The Columbia Paper reports that on May 4 Salvatore Cascino [kah-SHEE-no] got let out of jail early, after convincing a judge he was cleaning up his act. Valden writes, "Mr. Cascino, a convicted felon and perennial scofflaw, owns a 300-acre property along the east side of Route 22 in Copake. He calls the place Copake Valley Farm and for nearly two decades, he has been racking up violations of federal, state and town laws for illegal dumping, building, and excavating there." Cascino returns to court to report on his actions on June 6, July 18, and August 8. Cascino spent 69 days in the Columbia County Jail after being found guilty of criminal and civil contempt by Acting Supreme Court Judge Jonathan Nichols. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Local weather forecast

Today: Rain, mainly after 10 a.m. High near 57. Friday night, showers likely, mainly before 3 a.m. Cloudy. Low around 48.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SATURDAY: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 62. Saturday night, showers likely, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 47.
SUNDAY: Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Partly sunny. High near 58. Sunday night, mostly clear. Low around 41.

Sunrise today: 5:42 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:01 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 14:18 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Today is the first Friday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any recurring public meetings scheduled for today.

Photo of the building along the Catskill Creek from ADI website.

Adrienne Willis, executive director of the American Dance Institute, talks about the Sat., May 7, groundbreaking event to celebrate the start of renovations that will transform the former Dunn Builders Supply buildings into ADI’s new headquarters in Catskill on the "WGXC Afternoon Show" May 5 with Ellen Thurston and Tom DePietro.

Click here to play or download this interview.

On Friday, May 6, on the "WGXC Afternoon Show" there will be more interviews about this project.

From newlanarkblog.org.

Peter Bateson, a member of an English Camphill community and exhibit curator, will discuss "World Wide Weave," on exhibit at the Solaris Center for the Social Arts through May 16, with Cam Bellamy of Camphill Solaris, with hosts Ellen Thurston and Tom DiPietro on the "WGXC Afternoon Show."

Click here to download or play this interview.

Photo by Tom Roe.

Congressman Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) live in the WGXC Hudson studio, was on "All Together Now!" hosted by Tom Roe with Parry Teasdale, editor of The Columbia Paper, asking questions. Gibson outlined the issues he's working on in his final year in Congress. Previously, he put term limits on his service, and earlier this week announced he was closing an exploratory look into running for governor in 2018, and instead took a job at Williams College.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Thu., May 5 (2:23). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)